The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a play that presents it’s audience with many valuable themes, but the theme that we will focus on in this unit is the theme of power. Within that theme there are various subcategories. For example, there is power in speech, the power in manipulation, and power in superstition/omens. In addition to these examples, I would like to explore the idea that with power comes betrayal which can be looked at in many ways. Either exclusively within the friendship of Brutus and Caesar through not only Brutus’ murdering Caesar but also through Brutus’ decision to talk badly of him after his death or through characters like Cassius and Antony. The betrayal of friends, of one’s nation, and of oneself are all major factors in Shakespeare’s play. Something that cannot be ignored about this theme is that the betrayal was not only personal, but political. This theme can be closely tied to language and the power of rhetoric. Politics are impossible to ignore, and it is important for students to see connections between the text and modern day politics, even those seen in high school settings. In addition, character has much to do with the power one can possess. I would like to explore different characters from different texts, and examine what it is that makes them brave or conversely, what makes them cowardly. I would like to explore this theme in many different ways in order to broaden the scope of the classroom.
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a play that presents it’s audience with many valuable themes, but the theme that we will focus on in this unit is the theme of power. Within that theme there are various subcategories. For example, there is power in speech, the power in manipulation, and power in superstition/omens. In addition to these examples, I would like to explore the idea that with power comes betrayal which can be looked at in many ways. Either exclusively within the friendship of Brutus and Caesar through not only Brutus’ murdering Caesar but also through Brutus’ decision to talk badly of him after his death or through characters like Cassius and Antony. The betrayal of friends, of one’s nation, and of oneself are all major factors in Shakespeare’s play. Something that cannot be ignored about this theme is that the betrayal was not only personal, but political. This theme can be closely tied to language and the power of rhetoric. Politics are impossible to ignore, and it is important for students to see connections between the text and modern day politics, even those seen in high school settings. In addition, character has much to do with the power one can possess. I would like to explore different characters from different texts, and examine what it is that makes them brave or conversely, what makes them cowardly. I would like to explore this theme in many different ways in order to broaden the scope of the classroom.